Larry Neff/special to the Times News A Pottsville man was killed after losing control of his motorcycle Friday on Route 309 near the West Penn Township-Tamaqua line.

A motorcyclist from Pottsville was killed early Friday afternoon after he lost control of his motorcycle on SR309N in the area of Fegley's gas station near the West Penn Township-Tamaqua line.

According to eyewitnesses, Adam Kauffman, 27, of 34 Tuscarora St., Pottsville, and his friend, Kyle Delpais of Brockton, were on separate motorcycles traveling north on the highway, at approximately 12:45 p.m., when they attempted to pass a northbound tractor trailer owned by Kane Trucking. As the two motorcycles approached the curve, they encountered a box style truck, owned by BCI, which was stopped to make a left turn.

Delpais was able to avoid the stopped truck, but Kauffman's motorcycle struck the right rear tire, sending the driver airborne and into the right hand traffic lane. The Kane rig was unable to stop or avoid striking the victim as he lay in the roadway. Good Samaritans attempted CPR on the victim but without success. Kauffman was pronounced dead at the scene at 1:30 p.m.

West Penn Police are in charge of the investigation. They were assisted at the scene by Tamaqua Police and personnel from the Tamaqua Fire Department, Tamaqua Community Ambulance and Tamaqua and West Penn Township Fire Police.

The roadway was shut down for various periods of time throughout the afternoon as police conducted their investigation.